PROGRESS IN ENGINEERING 303 



The next institutions to present graduates were the 

 Massachusetts institute of technology and Washington and 

 Lee university, in Virginia, both of which graduated classes 

 in 1868. From this organization the institute of technology 

 was recognized as a remarkably strong institution, and it is 

 still looked upon as a leader among engineering schools. 

 Much of the success in founding this institution is due to Prof. 

 Wm. B. Rogers. The organization meeting was held on Janu- 

 ary 11, 1861, and the act of incorporation gave the institute 

 and the Boston society of natural history the site occupied 

 by the buildings, two thirds for the institute and the other 

 third to the society of natural history. 



Owing to the war of the rebellion the school was not 

 started until 1864, and meantime the land grant bill — to be 

 discussed later — had been passed, and the Massachusetts 

 institute of technology received a portion of the aid from 

 this act. A class of thirteen was graduated in 1868. The 

 first catalogue showed a list of seventy two students, nearly 

 all from the field that should have been covered by Lawrence 

 Scientific school had that institution but taken advantage of 

 its opportunities. The six courses originally outlined by 

 Prof. Rogers have formed the basis of instruction, although 

 others have been added from time to time. The institution 

 has been most prosperous, and has proved a credit not only to 

 Boston and Massachusetts, but to the country. 



Since 1862 a large number of institutions having engi- 

 neering departments have been organized, many of which 

 resulted from the land grant bill. Between 1865 and 1870 

 as many as eighteen were founded. 



Stevens institute, organized in 1871, has the distinction 

 of giving instruction in mechanical engineering only, and of 

 conferring but one degree, that of mechanical engineer. 



Probably no other single act has done more to advance 

 the possibilities of engineering education than the bill intro- 

 duced into congress by Hon. Justin Morrill, of Vermont, and 

 commonly known as the land grant bill. The original bill, 

 introduced in 1858, was vetoed by President Buchanan, but 

 in 1862 Senator Morrill again presented the bill, and on July 

 2, President Lincoln's signature made the bill a law. 



